Well-drilling apparatus



Sept. {2, '1930. w. SHELDON 1,774,531

WELL DRILLING APPARA TUs I Y Original Filed May 5, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

INVENTOR Sept. 2, 1930.

\ w. SHELDON WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed May 5, 1926 s sheets-sheet 2 lNgi-INTOR p -2,1930. w. SHELDON 1,774,531

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Originai Filed May 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR Y Mxm,

ATTORN Y Patented Sept. 2, 1930 warren srarss WALDO SHELDON, OF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS Original application filed May 5, 1926, Serial No. 106,849. 7 Divided and this application filed November 6,

I 1926, Serial No. 146,584.

Special objects of the present invention are to combine in the one machine the advantageous features of both the rotary drilling methods and of pressure feed; to accomplish this with relatively simple, practical and readily transportable apparatus; and to provide the apparatus in a compact, easily controlled, well balanced structure adapted to answer the various requirements to which it may be subjected at diiferent times.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained in this invention by certain novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts as hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention and, since they are intended primarily for purposes of disclosure, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure without departure from the true scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter broadly claimed.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus with certain of the beams of the derrick floor broken away and appearing in section.

" Figure 2 is a partial plan View of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of one of the locking pins for the power cylinder, shown in its retracted position.

Figure 4- is a part sectional view of the rotary table and power cylinder structure.

Figure 5 is a broken detail view illustrating removal of the power cylinder and adaptation of the invention to ordinary rotary drilling. V

The present application is in the main, a division from application Serial #106,849, involving the same arrangement of the motor,

hoisting drum and rotary table, all on the same transportable sled-like base. Thisbase is shown made up of I-beam side sills 5 connected in spaced parallel relation by cross beams 6 and further connected and braced at one end by a substantially square base plate 7 secured on top of the beams by bolts 180 and serving as the bed or base structure for base plate between the supporting beams and as having an outstanding flange 12 resting on the base plate and detachably secured thereto by bolts 13. The base sleeve of the table is shown as carrying a ball bearing 14:, supporting the table and its load and a plain thrust bearing is shown provided at 15 between the lower end of the table sleeve and the lower end of the bearing sleeve for carryingupthrust on the table. The wear on these bearings may be taken up by a thrust ring 16 screwed to the lower end of the table sleeve and secured in adjusted relation by a lock screw 17. This long sleeve bearing with the load carrying thrustbearings at the upper and lower ends of the same hold the table steady and keep it running free, despite the strains and gyratory eiiiects to which it is subjected.

The drill pipe is shown at 18 extending down through the bore of the table and the rotation of the table is imparted to the pipe in the present disclosure through the medium of a drive sleeve 19 slidingly held in the table by a removable key or keys 20. One of these keys is shown in Figure 4 as removably held in position by an overstanding retainerring 21 located in an octagonal seat 22 sunk in the face of the table. This angular seat is designed to receive an adapter bushing for drilling according to ordinary rotary methods. Such a bushing is illustrated at 23 in Figure 5, which view shows clearly how the table can be quickly converted to straight rotary drilling methods by simply lifting out the driving sleeve, key and retainer and substituting the adapter bushing in the retainer seat in the table.

The pressure control is provided in this disclosure by a concentrated hydraulic power cylinder suspended from the table base and having a relatively rotatable power applyingconnection with the drive sleeve. This power cylinder is shown in Figure 4; as made up of an outer cylinder wall 24c having the upper cylinder head 25 integrally attached thereto and an inner annular cylinder wall 26 having the lower annular cylinder head 2'7 integrally connected therewith and secured to the outer cylinder wall by bolts 28. Operating within the annular cylinder space thus provided is an annular piston 29 connected by a taper screw joint 30 with an annular piston rod 31 which slides up over the inner cylinder wall, past the inner edge of the upper cylinder head.

The annular piston is given a proper lit in the cylinder by means of compressiblepacle ing rings 32 arranged in open seats in the opposite sides of the same and held by a denble flanged compressing ring 33, which. ring is adjusted by eans of bolts 34 accessible through alined openings in the lower cylinder head, which openings are normally closed by the removable plugs Similar packing rings 36 are carried by the upper cylinder head and can be adjusted by the screw ring 37 into proper engagement with the outer surface of the annular piston rod. Packing rings 88 are indicated as provided betweci the inner surface of the piston rod and the outer surface of the inner cylinder wall.

The pressure cylinder is removably supported in a seat at the foot of the table base, this seat being provided at 39 in a ring 40 secured to the lower end of the table base by bolts 41. The upper cylinder head is of a size to fit down in the seat 39 and is shouldered as indicated at 13 to rest on the supporting flange 44: at the bottom of this seat.

To secure the cylinder thus seated in the table base, one or more locking pins 45 are provided extending in through the side of the supporting ring into seats l6 in the side of the upper cylinder head. These pins are shown as slidingly guided in radial bores 4:7 and as acted upon by springs 48 engaged between the shoulders 49 on the inner portions of the pins and the screw plugs 50 closing the outer ends of the bores. These springs thrust the pins inwardly into the cylinder securing position but provision is also made for holding the pins retracted in their nonsecuring relation in the form of cross pins or lugs 51 which, as shown in Figure 3, will pass through slots 52 in the closure plugs 50 and will. then by engagement with the outer surface of such plugs. hold the locking pins or bolts retracted. Thus, to release the cylinder it is merely necessary to turn the bolts 45 so as to bring the cross pins 51 into tcr with slots 52 and to then withdraw the bolts and turn them so as to engage the cross pins over the outside of the closure plugs 50. \Vhen thus unlocked from the supporting ring, the power cylinder may be lifted out of its seat, up through the bore of the table and after such removal of the power apparatus,

adapters and other devices such as used in rotary drilling may be inserted in the table and the table is used according to ordinary rotary drilling methods.

A relatively rotatable connection between the power cylinder and drive sleeve is effected in the present disclosure by the provision of the annular piston rod with outwardly extending upwardly and downwardly facing thrust shoulders 53, 5t interposed between and acting on downwardly and upwardly faced inwardly extending hrust shoulders 5o, 56 carried by the drive sleeve. Friction between these parts is taken care of in the illustration by ball bearings 57, 58. An annular cover 59 about the upper bearing 57, carried by the upper piston rod shoulder 53 retains lubricant for this bearing and an upstanding cover (50 carried by the lower shoulder of the drive sleeve retains lubricant for the lower bearing 58. To enable compensation to be made for wear, this lower shoulder 56 is shown in the form of a ring screwed into the lower end of the drive sleeve, which may be locked in adjusted relation by the set screw 61.

The supporting bearing i l for the table is also shown as equipped with outer and inner annular walls (i2, 63 forming a well about the ball races for retaining a suitable quantity of lubricant. The outer wall 6:2 is shown as fixed to the table base and as entering a slot 64 in the under side of the table to elude grit from the supporting bearing and from the long radial bearing. A similar guard wall 65 is shown rising from the table base into a slot 66 in the rim of the table and forming a housing about the crown gear 67 on the under side of the table. 7

To keep the piston from turning with the table, one or more keys such as indicated at 68 may be interposed between the inner cylinder wall 26 and the oversliding hollow piston rod 31, the latter being grooved at (39 to allow the full stroke of the piston. The key 68 is shown in Figure i as held to its seat in the outer side of the inner cylinder wall by an overstanding ring 70 removably secured on top of the inner cylinder wall and carrying a dust excluding packing 7i ene'agmg the inner surface of the hollow piston rod. This dust ring prereuts undue wear between these parts and reniovably secures the piston keys in place.

The drive sleeve is shown in Figure 4 as carrying an adapter bushing for the clamps or grips which engage and impart the rotative and vertical movements to the drill pipe. This bushing is shown as extendine; inwardly and dovmwardly over the upper edge of the annular piston rod, op )osition to the upper end of the inner cylinder wall.

In order that the drive sleeve may at times be held stationary with respectto the table in l-4,531

for instance, for making up or breaking pipe joints, .the adapter bushing is shown as formed with a keyway 73 adapted, when alined with the keyway 69 in the piston rod, to receive a key for fixing the drive sleeve and bushing to the non-rotating piston rod. When the drive sleeve and its bushing are to be thus held in fixed relation, the key 20 which normally holds the drive sleeve to the table is withdrawn so that the table may be rotated one way or the other while the pipe gripping drive sleeve is thus held stationary.

The water or other fluid under pressure, in the present illustration, is supplied to and exhausted from the annular cylinder above and below the piston therein by pipe connections 7e, 7 5 under control of suitable valve mechanism 76 as disclosed more fully in eopending applications 106,849 and 106,850. Thispiping is preferably such that it may be readily disconnected when the power cylinder is to be lifted out of the rotary.

As the weight of the string of pipe carried by the power cylinder is considerable and might injure or break away the lower cylinder head, if suddenly applied thereto, means are supplied for automatically trans-- ferring this weight to the table top when the piston is lowered to the bottom of its stroke This means is shown as consisting of an out standing flange 77 on the drive sleeve overstanding a portion of the tabletop and adapted to rest thereon when the piston is lowered to the extent indicated in Figure 4:. This flange may be slotted as indicated at 7 8, Fig ure 2 in line with the key slots between the table sleeve and bearing sleeve to facilitate removal of the keys 20.

The drill pipe is held in the drive cylinder by suitable gripping means such as the grip 79 and overstanding two-part clamp 80 held by the bolts 81, which parts are indicated only generally, being more fully disclosed and broadly covered in applications, Serial Numbers 711,982, 736,206 and 6,535, and being designed to grip the pipe forboth the rotary movement of the table and the lift ing or lowering movement of the power cylinder.

The power for driving the rotary and hoist, in the present disclosure, is derived from a motor 82 mounted on a sub-base 83 on the far or opposite end of the sled frame, said motor operating the line shafting 85 extending longitudinally of the frame substan tially centrally between the side sills in bearings 86 mounted on the cross beams. At the table end, this line shaft carries a bevel pinion 87 in mesh with the bevel gear of the table. A clutch 88 in the line shafting, controlled by lever 89 enables the table to be cut into and out of operation and when disconnected from the power source, the table may be positively locked against rotation in either d1rection by holding pawls 90 pivoted 96, 97 on cross shafts 98, 99 at opposite sides of the line shafting, said gears meshing with appropriate gears at the ends of the drum and being governed independently by clutches 100, 101, controlled by connections 7 102, 103'from pedals 10 i, 105 located acent the table clutch lever 89 in front of the drum. The clutch gears 96, 97 are directly operated by bevel gears 106, 107 on the cross shafts, one larger than the other and in mesh with the oppositely facing drive pinions 108, 109 on the line shaft. Brakes for controlling the drum are indicated at 110 operated by hand levers 111, 112.

The controls for the engine are preferably brought up to the operators station in front of the drum and adjacent the table so that the engine may be started and stopped and the action of both the drum and the table be cont-rolled at will. The valve 76 for controlling the lifting or lowering forceof the power cylinder is also preferably located at this control'station, within easy reach of the penstor so that the feed of the drill can be governed while watching the action of the rotary and while all other controls are in immediate reach. The entire apparatus may thus be governed by one individual and the whole action be made to accord with conditions as they exist. The table may be unclutched and if necessary, be locked stationary. i l'hile the table is uncoupled the drum may be operated as required, wholly independently of the table.

The pressure feed may be used, or not, as occasion requires, and if the machine is to be used for long periods, for ordinary rotary drilling, the pressure cylinder, piston and drive sleeve, may be entirely removed by simply lifting the same out of the table, after the hydraulic connections have been broken and the locking pins 48 have been retracted. The removal of the hydraulic exposes the fullinside diameter of the sleeve 9 of the table, allowing larger size pipe and casing to be passed than when the power cylinder is in place. If still larger size casing is to be passed, the entire rotary table may be lifted, after releasing bolts. thus exposing the large diameter seat 11 in the base plate 7. This'possibility allows for the handling of the larger size casing in a machine of only moderate size, the table and hydraulic being built to handle ordinary size drill pipe and casing and the removal of the table providing for the handling of the larger size casing. This ability of quickly freeing the table from the supporting base is advantageous also as it enables the table structure to be quickly raised and blocked up so that the dependent portions clear the bottom line of the sled structure, which then can be handled as a skid.

The flat bed plate braces and reinforces the table end of the frame and provides a firm substantial bed for the table. The frame thus rigidly braced can be shifted about as required, making the apparatus as a whole readily transportable. The apparatus may be set up in various ways, for instance, as shown in Figure 1, by sliding it onto cross beams 113 resting on the floor beams 11% f the derrick.

The transverse shaft sections which carry the clutch gears for operatin the drum are shown as supported at their inner ends in bearings provided in opposite sides of the special main shaft bearing 115 and as held at their outer ends by bolts 116 in bearings 117 mounted on the sides of the frame. hen the bolts 116 are released these shafts can be withdrawn to drop the clutches. The different size bevel gears at opposite sides of the li Ac shutting are spaced quite closely together, when meshed with their driving pinions and so take up but little room he neath the drum. The two drive pinions are spaced at different distances on opposite sides of the cross shafts so as to mesh with y s of diilezent di The structure as a whole is a relatively compact, well balanced piece of apparatus, with the motor or drive .nechanaen centrally located at one end of the frame, the rotary table centrally supported at the opposite end of the frame, the drum centrally mounted beth two line s extending longitudinally m the center of the frame from the motor beneath the hoist to the table, with the gearing for driving the drum spaced evenly on opposite sides of the line shafting. There is thus a balance of power as well as an equal distribution of weight so that the mechanism is quiet and steady in operation.

The edge of the base plate beneath the table driving pinion is shown as having a cut-out or wide slot 118 to pass the end shaft bearing which is mounted on one of the cross be ms and also to afford clearance for the driv ng pinion when the base plate is unfastened and lifted from the frame.

t will be clear that the structure may be modified and changed in various ways to suit special needs and so it should be understood that the terms employed herein are used primarily in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except possibly for such limitations as may be required by the state of the prior art.

the bore 1V hat is claimed is:

1. In well drilling apparatus, a table base, an annular bearing supported by said base, a rotary table supported on said annular hearing, annular flanges at the inner and outer sides of said annular bearing for confining lubricant thereto, a drive sleeve slidingly keyed in the table, a power cylinder, a piston operating in said power cylinder. upper and lower thrust bearings interposed between said piston and the end portions of said drive sleeve and annular flanges for confining lubricant to said upper and lower thrust bearings.

2. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a drive sleeve slidingly keyed in said table, an annular power cylinder, an annular piston operating in said cylinder, said cylinder and piston having companion keyways therein, said piston having relatively r0- taable connection with the drive sleeve for raisin: and lowering the same in the table nd a pushing in the drive sleeve having a ay to register with the key-ways in the and piston.

. is: drilling apparati s, a rotary taa drive sleeve slidingly keyed in said ta- .)ie, an annular power cylinder, an annular Lon operati in said cylinder, said cylinan 9' having companion lacy-ways therein, said piston having relatively rotata We connection with the drive sleeve for raisr and lowering the same in the table and a -1" the drive sleeve having a key-way to l'fl lsl fil' with the key-ways in the cylinder and piston, the drive sleeve and table having companion key-ways and a key engaged therein but removable therefrom to uncouple the sleeve from the table and permit the sleeve to be keyed to the cylinder and piston by the entry of a key in the key-way in the bushing.

4:. In well drilling appara ;us, a rotary table, a drive sleeve slidingly keyed in said table, a u wer cylinder supported below the table and vi an inner annular cylinder wall, an annular piston in the cylinder having an annular piston rod extending up over the inner annular cylinder wall, said piston rod having a relatively rotatable thrust connection with the drive sleeve for raising and lowering the same and a dust ring attached to the upper end of the inner annular cylinder wall and engaging the inner surface of the annular piston rod.

lln well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, drive sleeve slidingly keyed in said table, a power cylinder supported below the table and having an inner annular cylinder wall, an annular piston in the cylinder having an annular piston rod extending up over the inner annular cylinder all, said piston rod having relatively rotatable thrust connection with the drive sleeve for raising and lowerin g the same, a dust ring attached to the up per end of the inner annular cylinder wall inward into holding engagement with the and engaging the inner surface of the annular cylinder. piston rod and a removable key entered be- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my tween the outside of said inner cylinder wall hand this 15th day of October, 1926.

V WALDO SHELDON.

and the inside of the annular piston rod, said key being engaged beneath and held in place by said dust ring.

6. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a drill stem driving sleeve slidingly keyed in said table, a power cylinder and a pis ton actuated thereby for raising and lowering the drive sleeve, a support in which said cylinder is seated and spring pressed bolts for removably securing said cylinder in said support.

7. In a rotary of the character disclosed, a rotary table, a support having a shouldered seat at the foot of said table, a power cylinder engaged in said seat and resting on said shoulder, a locking bolt extending from the seat into the cylinder, means for securing said bolt in either projected or retracted position, a piston operating in the cylinder and a drill driving sleeve in the table and adapted to be raised and lowered'by said piston.

8. In a rotary, a table base, an annular seat carried by said base, a power cylinder supported in said seat, a spring pressed bolt for locking said cylinder in the seat. means for holding said bolt in retracted position. a piston operating in said cylinder and a drill stem driving sleeve in the table adapted to be ra sed and lowered by said piston.

9. In combination. a rotary table, a drill stem driving sleeve slidinglv keyed therein, a support provided with an annular seat. a power cylinder engaged in said seat. said support having a bore therein. a plum closing the outer end of said bore. said pluq' having a passage for a locking bolt and a slot open to said assage. 2 bolt operating in said passage and bore and shiftahle into holding nga ementwirh, the cylinder. a p n on the bolt adapted to through the slot in the plug and a piston operatin in the ower cvlinder and having a relatively rotatable connection with t e drive sleeve.

10, In combination. a rotary table, a drill stem. driving slee e slidinglv lzeved therein, a

support rovid d with an annular seat. a 7

power c linder engaged in said seat. said support having a bore therein, a plug closing the outer end of said bore. said plug having'a shoulder and the plug for thrusting the bolt 

